President Barack Obama, in a Thursday speech at the White House, implored House Republicans not to wait until next year to take up an immigration overhaul.

"Let's see if we can get this done. And let's see if we can get this done this year," Obama said, adding that waiting would not make it any easier to accomplish.

He said there is time to get an immigration bill done and reiterated his talking points about the legislation boosting the economy and having bipartisan support. He said Democrats and Republicans should be able to come together to act on the things they agree on.

Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, urged the president to back the House GOP's approach of passing piecemeal bills.

"The speaker agrees that America has a broken immigration system and we need reform that would boost our economy. He’s also been clear that the House will not consider any massive, Obamacare-style legislation that no one understands," Buck said. "Instead, the House is committed to a common sense, step-by-step approach that gives Americans confidence that reform is done the right way. We hope that the president will work with us — not against us — as we pursue this deliberate approach.”